episode_0193

*** ***

My wallet is empty.

Since becoming Hocheonan, I have not been able to raise any money until this year.

Because while gambling, I lost everything except my survival funds.

There were a few requests I received after gambling, but it was an ambiguous amount to consider as meaningful funds… It was when I was called to Dangata that I started to have money that could be called assets.

The money earned from the Tang family for the usage fees and gambling lecture fees related to the gambling techniques used in the Tang family martial arts dragon fighting method was approximately 100 nyang.

I spent all of this on obtaining the earth element elixir.

After that, the biggest income was 270 nyang of gold obtained from Seongrakru. Excluding the 70 nyang distributed to Yeo Il-ye, the remaining 200 nyang is my income.

After that, I made miscellaneous profits, such as buying a carriage on the way to Jeomchangpa.

He received a gift from the imperial palace, and one hundred golden cats were added to his assets.

In the end, my current wealth was a little over 300 nyang of gold, and I told it all to Gwang Jae-ryeon.

“Sigh.”

In fact, the basic rule of martial arts is to invest at the top once you have accumulated a little gold. I don’t have enough time to practice and travel, so working hard to make money is too much of a waste of time.

Originally, it should have been done that way.

The impact of the golden harvest in Sacheon was too great. In a situation where it was unclear how far the aftermath of the shaking of the Golden Street and Sacheon commercial world would spread, I had no choice but to park my money as I could not invest in the upper sector…

When I heard the information that Gwangjaeryun’s workshop was deep in debt, I thought this was it.

Gwangjae Refining’s new steel smelting method is literally like a reserved stock.

I was so excited that the image library stopped working properly. I coolly closed the settings book, put my legs up on the desk, and closed my eyes.

Ah, I see a red arrow piercing the graph window.

The dream of copying money comes true.

When I was immersed in the sweet dream of a rich man, Hocheonan.

“Instructor. Is it okay if I come in?”

Re-injury has come.

*** ***

Jaesanghae recalled the time when he was assigned to the Twelfth Division.

Although it wasn’t as specific a suspicion as it is now, there was still some dissatisfaction.

‘Isn’t it a bit weird that our unit’s number of people is not the same? ‘I can’t believe the National Medical Commission can’t even consider fairness to this degree.’

In a unit like that, shouldn’t it be equipped with experienced instructors? However, since it is an external advisor, they appoint someone who has never experienced the Geumui Council exam.

At first I just thought so.

And those suspicions seemed to have disappeared after the mock battle. Because Ho Cheon-an was at a different level from other instructors.

I thought that was why Song An-seong often approached me with a serious face. Since the training results are so overwhelming, isn’t it a request to refrain from doing so? I judged the re-injury to be that level and moved on.

However, as Jo Ga-ju and Kangchumoru left the dormitory, doubts arose in Jaesanghae’s heart.

Did that Ho Tian-an really not expect that Jo Jia-ju and Kang Chu-Mo-ru would quit the Jinui Committee? But why do you just let these two people go without doing anything?

Wasn’t it Ho Cheon-an who trained the Twelfth Division with great enthusiasm? But would such passion have been neglected by those who left at the moment of fruition?

The momentary suspicion gradually took shape as I experienced Ho Cheon-an’s strange behavior.

So I asked my classmates to do some research and went to see my father’s reaction.

‘You heard something.’

The attitude of my father, who was almost certain of being eliminated, was uncharacteristic of a person who values caution as a virtue. And even investigated the personal background of fellow members from other units.

Most of the trainees were from the imperial army or were students of famous martial artists or dojos. Other than that, his experience could be counted on one hand.

‘But in our 12th generation… there are only four of us who have served in the military. Even though I come from a tattoo family, I am a famous person. Even so, I am a painter, engraver, and blacksmith…’

However, in the 12th division, there were successful candidates from all kinds of backgrounds, and there was even a shortage of one person.

One conclusion was drawn in Jaesanghae’s mind.

‘The Twelfth was a unit designed to be eliminated from the beginning.’

Talented people who can excel in other fields. In other words, this also meant that they were people who would not have much regrets even if they quit their posts. Since there are so many talented people, are they going to eliminate those who are likely to become migratory birds anyway?

Jaesanghae understood the intention of the Geumuiwiwi. No, the Gold Coast Guard’s intentions were probably good.

‘Adjutant Song An-seong had repeatedly warned Instructor Ho Cheon-an.’

Because he trained the eliminated units so strongly, he noticed them from time to time. When I thought about it that way, the lieutenant’s actions all seemed to fit together. The mock battle that was suddenly held out of nowhere was ultimately a means of keeping the Twelfth Division in check. A tactic to reveal the power of the Twelfth Division and make others feel threatened!

Jae Sang-hae glanced at the book that Ho Cheon-an was looking at. Although I haven’t studied it in depth, it’s a book with strange characters that I’ve never seen before, even if I’ve learned many characters before.

He was truly a consistently suspicious person.

“I understand everything.”

“What do you mean? Re-injured trainee.”

“Intentionally causing trainees to drop out. Didn’t the Geumui Committee order the entire Twelfth Division to be eliminated?”

“The main building is not busy right now, but it is also not free enough to fit the random conspiracy theories of the re-injured trainees.”

Jae Sang-hae just nodded while looking at Ho Cheon-an, who didn’t even blink.

“Yes. This is my conspiracy theory. Gwang Jae-ryeon, that kid came back yesterday with very swollen eyes. They said they were leaving. Well, I guess some instructor decided to invest in the workshop.”

Ho Cheon-an did not answer.

“Oh, that’s not what Gwangjaeryeon said. I’m just talking about a conspiracy theory that this is what will happen. Gwangjae-ryeon just said he was going back to the workshop and left.”

Jae Sang-hae looked at Ho Cheon-an and let out a long sigh.

“And now that I know all the circumstances. I finally realized how Instructor Ho treated me.”

“I don’t remember any special treatment from the main building.”

“There is a tendency to pay some attention to Jo Ga-ju… but I know that the instructor tried to provide equal opportunities to all of the Twelve Units. And that was the problem.”

Jaesanghae adjusted his posture and sat down. It was a more comfortable and relaxed posture.

“Instructor. I have lived my whole life receiving special treatment. No matter where I went, I was treated like a military person.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. It was like that. Even though I was openly lazy at school, my teacher thought it was okay, and my friends at school looked up to me and envied me. It was the same wherever I went. Not only poetry and calligraphy, but also martial arts and catching skills.”

“I learned everything quickly and quickly got bored so I went to learn something new. In the process, there were many instances where I ignored my teacher.”

Jaesanghae, who was speaking, chuckled.

“The first place where I, who was an Ilhak (一鶴), was treated like an ordinary person was this Twelfth Unit and instructor Ho Cheon-an. If you show just a little bit of talent, everyone’s eyes instantly change. Instructor Ho didn’t really care whether I showed talent or not. On the contrary, I felt like I had a hole in my soul just because I had to peel it.”

Ho Tian-an continued to listen to Jae-sang-hae’s words without saying a word.

“I am a horse. Actually, I was afraid of becoming a chicken. That’s why I only showed talent and ran away. I was afraid that if I truly started to pursue greater heights, I would encounter people with equal or greater talent and effort than me, and in fact, Jaesanghae would be thought of as just one of the chickens, not a crane.”

“I tried my best to ignore that fact and ran away, deceiving myself. He shows flashes of achievement with talent, but his writing is boring. The music is boring. The painting was boring, so I ran away and ran away, eventually reaching the Gold Medal. And I ended up becoming a chicken here.”

“The headquarters highly valued the talents of the injured trainees.”

“Yes. But they didn’t give me any special treatment. In the end, the instructor treated me as a trainee who was a little better at Bidojutsu than others. Is it just that? Jo Ga-ju, Gangchu Moru, Gwang Jae-ryeon… They were considerate so that these people could fly away, but they did not take any action against me until today, which was the last day. Even though he thought other people’s talents were a waste, didn’t he feel regretful about Jaesanghae’s talent?”

Jaesanghai’s tone was like boiling water. Why wasn’t my talent recognized? I don’t know how much, but he invested a huge amount of money in Gwang Jae-ryeon, so why didn’t he acknowledge it?

“No, is that so?”

Jaesanghae was saying that.

“However, I have a correction to make.”

Jaesanghae swallowed his saliva out of nervousness. This is Ho Cheon-an’s first expression of intent since taking this seat.

“one. The main office did not look at the talents of Zhao Jiazhu, Kangchu Moru, and Guang Jae-ryeon. However, I admit that the three who are not there now have something special about them.”

“…that. What is? If it wasn’t talent, what made Instructor Ho think of them as cranes?”

“Goal.”

Ho Cheon-an said calmly.

“It was so clear where they were looking that I just put my hand on their back.”

“…is that so.”

Jaesanghae was speechless and leaned against the backrest. Goal…goal.

Is that why I ended up becoming a chicken? That was correct. How can a bird that has no will or direction to fly think of flying? A flightless bird is just a chicken.

Jaesanghae was convinced.

“I ran away from fear of becoming a chicken my whole life. But actually, being treated like a chicken isn’t that bad. I don’t know why I was so afraid of becoming a chicken. Even if it were a chicken, it was like learning to be honest, try hard, and flap.”

“Second, there is something that needs to be corrected. Re-injury trainee.”

At Ho Cheon-an’s words, Jae-sang-hae’s eyes were filled with doubt.

“The trainees are all birds. We are confident that everyone will spread their wings of possibility and soar.”

Jaesanghae’s eyes trembled.

“As I said before, Jo Jia Ju, Kang Chu Moru, and Gwangjae Ryeon were not cranes. They just broke the egg a little early and went out. On the other hand, the re-injury trainee is still just an egg. But, Jaesanghae Trainee, if you crack the egg first and go out, does that mean that the bird becomes a big bird and the other birds become sparrows? That’s not true.”

“…Instructor.”

“Cranes and chickens? That is just an illusion. There are just birds that have taken flight and birds that have not yet taken flight. Don’t call yourself a chicken and think that you can’t fly. The sky is eternal, so those who challenge at any time will surely soar.”

Jae Sang-hae looked at Ho Tian-an with trembling eyes. Ho Cheon-an asked a question as he saw the re-injury.

“Re-injury trainees. Do you plan on just sucking your fingers while watching Jo Ga-ju, Gangchu Anvil, or Gwangjae-ryeon fly in the sky?”

“No!”

Jaesanghae clenched his fists and said.

“Now, they started one step ahead, but they are hurt again! We’ll catch up soon! So…I too will quit the Gold Council.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. I guess I don’t have the constitution of a young soldier. It’s under my orders… I’m still shaking!”

Jaesanghae made a joke and then expressed his true feelings.

“I thought carefully about when and why I became like this. In the end, it seemed like it all started out of a feeling of rebellion against the family. My father always wanted me to be humble, and I rebelled against that. Maybe…that’s why I always thought I should become a crane.”

“Do you plan to return home?”

“Yes. After receiving recognition from my father, I decided to change the family tradition.”

Ho Cheon-an thought Jae Sang-hae’s smile looked refreshing.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to rise to a level where even your father can acknowledge you without complaining? Whatever it is, I’ll do my best to become prime minister.”

“Is that so.”

Jae Sang-hae thought as he watched Ho Cheon-an answer calmly. I don’t know why Ho Cheon-an passed the 12th division, which was originally supposed to be eliminated. But now I have some guesses.

Because it will help the trainees’ future.

When given the title of Gold Lieutenant, trainees stand on a higher hill. If it breaks out of the egg and flaps its wings, it will be able to fly more easily than if it were forced to roll down a hill called Geumuiwi.

Re-injury was certain. This instructor, Ho Cheon-an, is a true instructor who only cares about developing the trainees’ potential, even going against the will of the group called the Geumuiwi.

This blunt instructor, who seemed to have no affection at all, embraced the trainees with a warmer heart than anyone else.

‘thank you. Instructor. I will never, ever forget this grace.’

Jaesanghae calmly engraved grace in his heart.

It was the last day waiting for the Gold Medical Commission training.